Fashion Draping: Bias Design

Learn how to drape on the bias and bring instant elegance to your garment designs with the expert instruction of Paul Gallo.

Flatter any form with the sophisticated cowls, twists and ruffles of bias-draped fabric. Designer Paul Gallo shares decades of high-fashion experience as he teaches you how to drape on the bias and create pattern pieces for stunning blouses, dresses and skirts. You'll learn how to choose the appropriate fabric, whether slinky or structured, and drape it on a dress form, then turn your draped design into a paper pattern. Explore pleats, tucks and twists as you incorporate many draped elements into a single pattern and create a bias-cut dress or blouse of your own design!

Lesson plan

Lesson 1. Draping on the Bias

Meet your instructor, Paul Gallo, and learn about the rich history of bias draping.

14:47

Lesson 2. Bias Draping Basics: Fabrics

Paul helps you choose the right fabrics for your draping project and discusses dress forms as you start your designing journey.

48:52

Lesson 3. Draping Cowls

An elegant cowl is not just found at the neck. Paul shows how you can drape cowls in the front, back or sides of your garment, then turn them into pattern pieces.

8:04

Lesson 4. Checking the Pattern

Paul demonstrates how to mark up, pin and double-check the accuracy of the pattern piece you've created for your cowl and how to fine-tune the fit.

35:34

Lesson 5. Gathering Techniques

Get your gathers together with Paul's helpful tips! You'll learn how to create a gathered halter neck or built-up neckline and see how to make pleats and pintucks. Then you'll turn your gathers and pleats in pattern pieces.

13:51

Lesson 6. The Butterfly Twist

Master the elegant and complex butterfly twist with Paul's guidance. It's not really as complicated as it looks! Paul will help you prepare your fabric, then show you inspiring variations to try.

5:11

Lesson 7. Cascade Ruffles

Try a cascade ruffle to add elegance or or a playful element to your design. It's all in the placement!

11:49

Lesson 8. Creating a Flared Skirt

Add some flair to your designs with a flared skirt. Paul demonstrates how to make a dramatic sweeping garment without a bulky waistline.

36:42

Lesson 9. Putting It All Together

Pull together all you've learned to design and sew a fabulous bias-cut dress, from draping to refining to finishing. Get ready to hear, "Who designed your dress? It's simply smashing!"

"This is a fantastic class full of useful information and techniques when you want to make a garment on bias! Paul Gallo's teaching style is relaxed and to the point. There is space for your own creativity. The possibility of making notes when watching the class and watching the class over and over again is wonderful. Even being more advanced in sewing, I still learned a few new techniques and got some useful tips."
Another great Craftsy class!" - RedPointTailorApeldoorn, The Netherlands

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Lesson plan

6:38

Lesson 1. Draping on the Bias

Meet your instructor, Paul Gallo, and learn about the rich history of bias draping.

14:47

Lesson 2. Bias Draping Basics: Fabrics

Paul helps you choose the right fabrics for your draping project and discusses dress forms as you start your designing journey.

48:52

Lesson 3. Draping Cowls

An elegant cowl is not just found at the neck. Paul shows how you can drape cowls in the front, back or sides of your garment, then turn them into pattern pieces.

8:04

Lesson 4. Checking the Pattern

Paul demonstrates how to mark up, pin and double-check the accuracy of the pattern piece you've created for your cowl and how to fine-tune the fit.

35:34

Lesson 5. Gathering Techniques

Get your gathers together with Paul's helpful tips! You'll learn how to create a gathered halter neck or built-up neckline and see how to make pleats and pintucks. Then you'll turn your gathers and pleats in pattern pieces.

13:51

Lesson 6. The Butterfly Twist

Master the elegant and complex butterfly twist with Paul's guidance. It's not really as complicated as it looks! Paul will help you prepare your fabric, then show you inspiring variations to try.

5:11

Lesson 7. Cascade Ruffles

Try a cascade ruffle to add elegance or or a playful element to your design. It's all in the placement!

11:49

Lesson 8. Creating a Flared Skirt

Add some flair to your designs with a flared skirt. Paul demonstrates how to make a dramatic sweeping garment without a bulky waistline.

36:42

Lesson 9. Putting It All Together

Pull together all you've learned to design and sew a fabulous bias-cut dress, from draping to refining to finishing. Get ready to hear, "Who designed your dress? It's simply smashing!"

The instructor

Paul Gallo, Instructor of Fashion Draping: Bias Design

As soon as Paul Gallo could hold a pencil, as a boy in Jersey City, he began to draw. He attended F.I.T. in New York and graduated from the Fashion Design Program where he got his first jobs on 7th Avenue. He has worked as a draper, fashion illustrator & patternmaker ever since for companies in the U.S., China and India. Paul has created a lifestyle where designing clothing, illustrating fashion and teaching constantly intermingle, because he believes it's important to pursue personal dreams and help other people with their creativity.

Ratings & reviews

Class rating

(14 reviews)

Looove It!!!

by misskathy0 on January 11, 2015

I have learned sooo much from this one class! Paul is great at showing you what to do and at explaining it in a way that makes it easy to do! I can't wait to take more of his classes! A+

I have learned sooo much from this one class! Paul is great at showing you what to do and at explaining it in a way that makes it easy to do! I can't wait to take more of his classes! A+

I really like this class!

by Ann-Hartley on January 10, 2015

I actually don't own a dress form. I enrolled in this class to see if I wanted to purchase one. I ended up deciding not to, but I still found a lot of value in this class. Paul gives a lot of information on fabric characteristics & handling that I found very helpful. A lot of the sewing patterns I use have several bias pieces, & the knowledge I gained from this class will definitely help me deal with these pieces in a more methodical way. Plus this class was fun to watch! Highly ...

I actually don't own a dress form. I enrolled in this class to see if I wanted to purchase one. I ended up deciding not to, but I still found a lot of value in this class. Paul gives a lot of information on fabric characteristics & handling that I found very helpful. A lot of the sewing patterns I use have several bias pieces, & the knowledge I gained from this class will definitely help me deal with these pieces in a more methodical way. Plus this class was fun to watch! Highly recommend.

A Great Class

by Hemios on December 2, 2014

I'm learning a lot just watching the class. I don't have a manikin yet. I can't wait to try these techniques!

I'm learning a lot just watching the class. I don't have a manikin yet. I can't wait to try these techniques!

Outstanding

by rioux81841721238 on December 1, 2014

Mr Gallo's knowledge is obviously extensive. He teaches directly and clearly. He is a pleasure to listen to and learn from and I will enjoy reviewing his lessons as I practice these new skills.

Mr Gallo's knowledge is obviously extensive. He teaches directly and clearly. He is a pleasure to listen to and learn from and I will enjoy reviewing his lessons as I practice these new skills.

Frequently asked questions

If you have some draping or dressmaking experience, you'll enjoy the challenges and inspiration of working with bias-draped fabric. If you're just getting started with draping, you might consider Paul's earlier class Fashion Draping: Dressmaking Basics. In either class, you'll love Paul's easy-going and inspiring teaching style.